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ene of a tragedy to me； through the blind fondness of one of these。
The adjective is literal。 This dear old lady； almost sightless； sitting in a low chair far in the chimney corner； where she had been placed on her first call to see the new baby； took me upon her lap； andso they sayunconsciously let me slip off into the coals。 I was rescued unsinged； however； and it was one of the earliest accomplishments of my infancy to thread my poor； half… blind Aunt Stanley's needles for her。 We were close neighbors and gossips until my fourth year。 Many an hour I sat by her side drawing a needle and thread through a bit of calico； under the delusion that I was sewing； while she repeated all sorts of juvenile singsongs of which her memory seemed full； for my entertainment。 There used to be a legend current among my brothers and sisters that this aunt unwittingly taught me to use a reprehensible word。 One of her ditties began with the lines：
〃Miss Lucy was a charming child； She never said； 'I won't。'〃
After bearing this once or twice； the willful negative was continually upon my lips； doubtless a symptom of what was dormant withina will perhaps not quite so aggressive as it was obstinate。 But she meant only to praise me and please me； and dearly I loved to stay with her in her cozy up…stairs room across the lane； that the sun looked into nearly all day。
Another adopted aunt lived down…stairs in the same house。 This one was a sober woman； life meant business to her； and she taught me to sew in earnest； with a knot in the end of my thread； although it was only upon clothing for my ragchildren … absurd creatures of my own invention； limbless and destitute of features； except as now and then one of my older sisters would； upon my earnest petition； outline a face for one of them； with pen and ink。 I loved them； nevertheless； far better than I did the London doll that lay in waxen state in an upper drawer at home；the fine lady that did not wish to be played with； but only to be looked at and admired。
This latter aunt I regarded as a woman of great possessions。 She owned the land beside us and opposite us。 Her well was close to our door； a well of the coldest and clearest water I ever drank； and it abundantly supplied the whole neighborhood。
The hill behind her house was our general playground； and I supposed she owned that； too； since through her dooryard； and over her stone wall； was our permitted thoroughfare thither。 I imagined that those were her buttercups that we gathered when we got over the wall； and held under each other's chin； to see； by the reflection； who was fond of butter； and surely the yellow toadflax （we called it 〃lady's slipper〃） that grew in the rock… crevices was hers； for we found it nowhere else。
The blue gill…over…the…ground unmistakably belonged to her； for it carpeted an unused triangular corner of her garden inclosed by a leaning fence gray and gold with sea…side lichens。 Its blue was beautiful； but its pungent earthy odorI can smell it now repelled us from the damp corner where it grew。 It made us think of graves and ghosts； and I think we were forbidden to go there。 We much preferred to sit on the sunken curbstones； in the shade of the broad…leaved burdocks； and shape their spiny balls into chairs and cradles and sofas for our dollies； or to 〃play school〃 on the doorsteps； or to climb over the wall 1； and to feel the freedom of the hill。
We were a neighborhood of large families； and most of us enjoyed the privilege of 〃a little wholesome neglect。〃 Our tether was a long one； and when； grown a little older； we occasionally asked to have it lengthened； a maternal 〃I don't care〃 amounted to almost unlimited liberty。
The hill itself was well…nigh boundless in its capacities for juvenile occupation。 Besides its miniature precipices； that walled in some of the neighbors' gardens； and its slanting slides； worn smooth by the feet of many childish generations； there were partly quarried ledges； which had shaped themselves into rock…stairs； carpeted with lovely mosses； in various patterns。 These were the winding ways up our castle…towers； with breakfast…rooms and boudoirs along the landings； where we set our tables for expected guests with bits of broken china； and left our numerous rag…children tucked in asleep under mullein blankets or plantain…coverlets； while we ascended to the topmost turret to watch for our ships coming in from sea。
For leagues of ocean were visible from the tiptop of the ledge； a tiny cleft peak that held always little rain…pool for thirsty birds that now and then stopped as they flew over； to dip their beaks and glance shyly at us； as if they wished to share our games。 We could see the steeples and smokes of Salem in the distance； and the bill； as it desended； lost itself in mowing fields that slid again into the river。 Beyond that was Rial Side and Folly Hill； and they looked so very far off！
They called it 〃over to Green's〃 across the river。 I thought it was because of the thick growth of dark green junipers； that covered the cliff…side down to the water's edge； but they were only giving the name of the farmer who owned the land； Whenever there was an unusual barking of dogs in the distance； they said it was 〃over to Green's。〃 That barking of dogs made the place seem very mysterious to me。
Our lane ran parallel with the hill and the mowing fields； and down our lane we were always free to go。 It was a genuine lane； all ups and downs； and too narrow for a street； although at last they have leveled it and widened it； and made a commonplace thoroughfare of it。 I am glad that my baby life knew it in all its queer； original irregularities； for it seemed to have a character of its own； like many of its inhabitants； all the more charming because it was unlike anything but itself。 The hill； too； is lost now； buried under houses。
Our lane came to an end at some bars that let us into another lane；or rather a footpath or cowpath； bordered with cornfields and orchards。 We were still on home ground； for my father's vegetable garden and orchard were here。 After a long straight stretch； the path suddenly took an abrupt turn； widening into a cart road； then to a tumble…down wharf； and there was the river！
An 〃arm of the sea〃 I was told that our river was； and it did seem to reach around the town and hold it in a liquid embrace。 Twice a day the tide came in and filled its muddy bed with a sparkling flood。 So it was a river only half the time； but at high tide it was a river indeed； all that a child could wish； with its boats and its sloops； and now and then that most available craft for a crew of childrena gundalow。 We easily transformed the spelling into 〃gondola；〃 and in fancy were afloat on Venetian waters； under some overhanging balcony； perhaps at the very Palace of the Doges；willingly blind to the reality of a mudscow leaning against some rickety wharf posts； covered with barnacles。
Sometimes a neighbor boy who was the fortunate owner of a boat would row us down the river a fearful； because a forbidden； joy。 The widening waters made us tremble with dread and longing for what might be beyond； for when we had passed under the piers of the bridge； the estuary broadened into the harbor and the open sea。 Then somebody on board would tell a story of children who had drifted away beyond the harbor…bar and the light…house； and were drowned； and our boyish helmsman would begin to look grave and anxious； and would turn his boat and row us back swiftly to the safe gundalow and tumbledown wharf。
The cars rush into the station now； right over our riverside playground。 I can often hear the mirthful shout of boys and girls under the shriek of the steam whistle。 No dream of a railroad had then come to the quiet old town； but it was a wild train of children that ran homeward in the twilight up the narrow lane； with wind…shod feet； and hair flying like the manes of young colts； and light hearts bounding to their own footsteps。 How good and dear our plain； two…story dwelling…house looked to us as we came in sight of it； and what sweet odors stole out to meet us from the white…fenced inclosure of our small garden；from peach… trees and lilac…bushes in bloom； from bergamot and balm and beds of camomile！
Sometimes we would find the pathetic figure of white…haired Larkin Moore； the insane preacher； his two canes lain aside； waiting； in our dooryard for any audience that he could gather： boys and girls were as welcome as anybody。 He would seat us in a row on the green slope； and give us a half hour or so of incoherent exhortation； to which we attended respectfully； if not reverently； for his whole manner showed that； though demented； he was deeply in earnest。 He seemed there in the twilight like a dazed angel who had lost his way； and had half forgotten his errand； which yet he must try to tell to anybody who would listen。
I have heard my mother say that sometimes he would ask if he might take her baby in his arms and sing to it； and that though she was half afraid herself； the babyI like to fancy I was that babyseemed to enjoy it； and played gleefully with the old man's flowing gray locks。
Good Larkin Moore was well known through the two neighboring counties； Essex and Middlesex。 We saw him